Unfortunately, Adam Morrison’s story does not seem to be getting any better. Sportando reports that Morrison may soon be leaving Besiktas—Deron Williams and Allen Iverson’s former team—in Turkey: “Adam Morrison and Besiktas are close to reaching an agreement to part ways. The American forward landed in Turkey last January as replacement of the injured Marcelus Kemp. With the Turkish team Morrison has played 8 games in TBL averaging 11.8ppg. With the return of Kemp, Morrison had limited minutes and negotiated to break the contract. Former Gonzaga has started the season in Serbia with Red Star leaving the team in December when the lockout ended. Morrison could find a contract in the NBA so decided to return to Europe but his second stint in the Old Continent is close to finish.”

With the NBA lockout seemingly in the rear-view mirror, it’s time for all those NBA players that left to play ball overseas to return to their respective NBA cities. Well, all except for JR Smith, Wilson Chandler Kenyon Martin and Aaron Brooks, apparently. One guy who will be making his way back home with more than just some extra cash is New Jersey Nets’ Deron Williams. The All-Star guard will also be bringing his now retired Turkish jersey. Yes, that’s right. All it took were 15 games for Williams to have his jersey retired. From USA Today: “Clearly, the bar for basketball greatness isn’t set too high in Turkey. The farwell party today for Deron Williams proved that today, as his Besiktas team retired his No. 8 jersey after 15 games. Seriously, 15 games. Deadspin says Williams was good for averages of 21.8 points and 6.5 assists during his stay in Istanbul, which has come to an end with the NBA lockout settled. Give the New Jersey Nets’ guard credit for realizing there wouldn’t be a quick fix for the lockout, and signing on to play in Turkey way back in July. He blogged about the experience for ESPN.com, and wrote that there wasn’t much culture shock, and that nearly everyone on the team and coaching staff spoke English. But just think. If the lockout had lasted another month or so, he probably would have been headed to Turkey’s Hall of Fame.”

Perpetually looking to engage NBA players, Besiktas may be close to signing Kevin Love or Luol Deng to play in Turkey. Yahoo! reports: “As time and hope for salvaging an NBA season continue to dissipate, Turkey’s top team is engaged in serious talks with Kevin Love and Luol Deng about joining point guard Deron Williams in the Turkish Basketball League. ‘I’ve been going back and forth with Deron on it,” Love told Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears on Friday. ‘I’ll be making my decision in the next couple of days.’ Deng’s representatives have traded contract proposals with Besiktas too, sources said, and they’re working on insurance proposals to protect the remaining $42 million on his Chicago Bulls contract.”

For the better part of a decade now, the LeBron-Kobe debate has showered the sports world. Sure, it’s a good one, the sexy argument if you will…but it will be long—probably not until both players retire—before a clear winner will be generally accepted by the public if at all.

As of right now, it’s completely up in the air. Both sides have major haters, major lovers and rarely any devotee in the middle of the pack. Kobe has the hardware and his fourth quarters, LeBron’s got his talents. Even I have shuffled my vote back and forth a few times in recent years. The point is—nobody really knows…

But what I do know is that the LBJ-KB24 debate has perhaps overshadowed a much more intriguing battle—that of best point guard alive—with Deron Williams and Chris Paul in the corners. While this personal rivalry also may not have a clear victor at the present moment, it’s a much better debate if you think about it.

LeBron and Kobe play different positions and they’re gunning for best player in the world, so more needs to be taken into account when comparing them. And what makes it so difficult is that Kobe has Bron by six seasons, making it irrelevant to stack up their numbers and personal accomplishments side by side right now.

Over in the heated PG dispute, Deron Williams has all of one Draft selection on Chris Paul. Since DWill and CP3 were selected third and fourth, respectively, in the 2005 Draft, they’ve shared quite the similar journey in their young careers. You’d think that since they play the same position and share the same experience, it’d be much easier to see who the better player is when comparing their stats and awards so far.

Nope.

Seriously, take a look at this ride:

—Utah and New Orleans had the two worst records in the West in ‘04-05 before drafting their premier point guards.

—In their rookie years, their teams finished 9th and 10th, both falling short of the postseason. Although CP3 did cash in on Rookie of the Year honors.

—In their sophomore efforts, ‘06-07, Williams’ Jazz finished fourth in the West with a 51-31 record after Deron started 80 games for coach Sloan. The Hornets again finished 10th while Chris Paul sat at home and watched his counterpart lead Utah to the Western Conference Finals. DWill greatly improved his scoring from the regular season once the lights of the Playoffs shined.

—2007-08: New Orleans finished second while Utah clinched the fourth spot and both squads lost tough second-round battles that year as DWill suffered from a poor first two games against the Lakers while Paul couldn’t complete the seven-game victory at home against the Spurs.

—Strangely enough, the following season, both point guards’ teams regressed and finished one game apart, good for the last two spots in the Playoffs. Both lost underwhelming five-game series in the opening round, even though Williams and Paul played pretty well, especially the Jazz guard who averaged over 20/10 for the series.

—Williams really exploded in the ‘09-10 postseason, though. The Hornets ended the year with an abysmal 37-45 record, although to CP3′s credit, he only played in 45 games that year due to injury. But DWill’s Jazz won 50 games for the third time in his first five years to grab the fifth seed.

Deron absolutely owned the Nuggets in a six-game first-round victory. The former Illini star averaged 25.8 points on 49.4 percent shooting (it was actually 28.2 ppg before a 14-point output in Game 6). Even more amazing, Williams recorded double-digit assists in every game.

In the process, DWill recorded two 30-point, 10-assist games in the series to become the second Jazz player to accomplish the feat. John Stockton also did it twice—in his entire career. Deron also became the first NBA player ever to have five straight 20/10 performances in the postseason.

Except for one weak shooting effort against the Lakers, Williams played well again even though his team was swept away by the eventual champions.

—Last season, of course, to even the balance of power between the two star PGs, CP3 played in the postseason and absolutely shined in a first-round loss to the Lakers (who beat Utah the year prior, obviously), while Williams wasn’t able to participate in the NBA’s second season. He, too, had a legitimate excuse in that he just happened to be traded to the Newark Nets who boasted a wonderful 17-40 mark at the time. Meanwhile, the Jazz finished 8-16 without their star to miss the Playoffs for the first time since Deron’s rookie year…I know Utah thought they wouldn’t have been able to extend him had Deron remained in Salt Lake City…nevertheless though—probably should’ve attempted to hold on to their leader.

So there you have it. Pretty similar ride indeed. But when you stack up their numbers, CP3 actually does edge out DWill in almost every category. But most of their stats are quite similar, except for steals which Paul excels at due to his incredible speed.

Deron just does not have speed. Talent-wise, CP3 probably has Williams by a mile. You can’t deny that. So why do many experts proclaim Mr. Williams to be the greatest point guard the NBA has to offer? Results. Leadership.

DWill led his Fighting Illini to the 2005 NCAA Championship game. He led the Jazz to 50 wins three times and the postseason every year except his debut. And I’m certain if he had stayed in Utah (and remained healthy) last year, they would have once again grabbed a Playoff spot.

He’s a true floor general. In his short career with Utah, Deron often drew comparisons to his Hall of Fame predecessor, John Stockton, but Williams actually called many more plays for coach Jerry Sloan than Stockton ever did. He’s been running basketball offenses his way since high school, and clearly all of his coaches have always trusted him with their offensive schemes.

While his leadership was never in question, Williams’ collegiate numbers left something to be desired, especially his shooting percentages. His assists and points have both made a huge jump from college to the NBA, but it’s the improvement in his shooting across the board that has really impressed. Deron’s gone from shooting around 42 percent from the field and 65 percent from the free-throw line in college to now posting a career 46.3 percent clip and over 80 percent from the stripe.

And what Deron lacks in sheer Iverson-esque athleticism—which CP3 embodies—he makes up for with his massive size. Seriously, dude’s a running back…running an NBA team. Once a star wrestler back in middle school, he now boasts a 6-3, 209-pound frame. DWill’s body is like a bull when driving through the paint and also naturally improves his defense on other smaller point guards.

And now, the thick-bodied point guard is at the helm in New Jersey.

Once 2012 begins though, and the Nets finally make their move, DWill will be the biggest thing in Brooklyn since Jay-Z. Oh wait, no. Jigga will steal that limelight occasionally, not that he shouldn’t. But the Nets already know what they have. Due to his nagging wrist injury, Williams only played in 12 games for NJ after the trade, but in that span he averaged nearly 13 assists while the Nets scored 101.9 ppg compared to 92.9 points the rest of the season. A small sample size for sure, but eye-popping nonetheless.

Perhaps the country really took note of Deron Williams as a top image in the NBA this past July when he became the first NBA star to sign on to play overseas. Once Turkey got hold of Williams, it was like Moses leading a mass exodus. Now well over 60 players are going overseas, including Kobe, while other stars like Kevin Durant, Amar’e Stoudemire, Dwight Howard, Blake Griffin, Rudy Gay, etc. have since expressed interest in jetting across the Atlantic.

Deron should dominate over in EurAsia, and we’ll certainly have to keep a watch on the wrist.

But once he comes back, and the NBA returns, DWill will be right back proving why he should be labeled the best point guard in the NBA, not just one of the best. It’s a shame Chris Paul and Deron Williams haven’t played each other in postseason yet, although they might end up Big Apple enemies if the Knicks do indeed link up their own dream team with Amar’e, Melo and CP3.

Deron has some talent surrounding him currently in Jersey, but it’s nothing to write home about. When he finally gets home, he has quite the difficult task ahead of him turning that team into an Eastern powerhouse. But if I’m starting my basketball team, I’m building around a premier big man or point guard… and when that thought comes to mind… I instantly think Deron Williams. Always have.

This is not an argument against Chris Paul. He’s obviously everything you want in a basketball player, let alone a point guard. But Deron, you could say, with less talent and speed is right up there. This shouldn’t be a debate of flaws, because honestly, neither have too many in their games. Both of their styles are perfect for a dishing point guard who, at times, is relied on to score a lot as well. Both should be celebrated for their unique gifts, differing styles and the most similar of journeys so far.

Not gaudy numbers for the Nets‘ All-Star, but at least DWill is paid and playing. Did he make the right decision to play overseas? Time will tell: “Deron Williams scored 11 points and had five assists to help Besiktas to a 107-69 victory over Bandirma Kirmizi on Sunday in the NBA player’s Turkish league debut. New Jersey Nets guard Williams — a two-time NBA all-star and former Illinois star — is among a number of players from the league signed to overseas clubs until the end of the lockout. Another lockout signing, Cleveland Cavaliers’ Turkish forward Semih Erden, scored 13 points and gathered 8 rebounds to help Besiktas open the season with an emphatic win.”

The Italian website Sportando spoke to Kobe’s Turkish agent, who confirms what we expected: Besiktas’ offers were too low. (H/T L.A. Times): “Not that this was ever going to happen anyway, but at least it’s official. Kobe Bryant won’t play for Besiktas in Turkey. So says a report from Sportando.net, which adds that negotiations between the Turkish team and Bryant’s agent Rob Pelinka eventually stopped because the organization’s unspecified financial proposals remained ‘too low.’”

It was recently reported that an offer may soon be on the table for Kevin Durant to sign with Besiktas, the Turkish club who signed Deron Williams and has interest in Kobe. Should he take it? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

There have been rumors flying around (and being shot down) regarding the likelihood that Kobe Bryant signs on to play abroad, specifically in Turkey, for quite a while now. Well, according to this report (translated by our friend Atahan Erim), the Lakers superstar and the Chairman and Head of Basketball Operations of Besiktas–the Turkish club hoping to sign Kobe—will be meeting soon enough to get this thing all figured out: “Turkish state news agency Anadolu Ajans reports that Besiktas’ billionaire Chairman Yildirim Demiroren will personally be making the trip overseas today to the US to meet with Lakers star Kobe Bryant and his agent. According to the report, Chairman Demiroren will be accompanied by the head of Besiktas’ Basketball Operations Seref Yalcin. The two are expected to finalize the negotiations Bryant on this trip. Although, there have not been any official numbers released regarding the offer made to Bryant, local media speculates that Beskitas will table a 6 month 5.5 million dollar deal to the 32 year old star.”

OK, now you’re just getting greedy … DWill’s new bench boss wouldn’t mind coaching Williams, Zaza Pachulia, and Kobe Bryant (who, incidentally, is a Turkish Airlines endorser.) The NY Times reports: “We confirm’ the contract with Williams, said Ergin Ataman, the coach of the Turkish team Besiktas, in a telephone interview Thursday. Ataman said that the deal should become official in the next 24 hours and that Besiktas’s president, Seref Yalcin, would join Williams for a news conference in the United States next week. Williams is expected to report to Besiktas, which is based in Istanbul, on Sept. 1. The season there begins Sept. 27 … If the lockout is resolved, Williams would be free to break his contract and return to the N.B.A., Ataman said. Ataman said Zaza Pachulia, who plays for the Atlanta Hawks, also has an agreement to play for Besiktas. And the club is not done recruiting locked-out N.B.A. players, he said. ‘If there’s a possibility, we’ll talk with Kobe if he’d like to play in Europe with Deron and with other guys to play we can talk with him,’ Ataman said. ‘If Kobe would like to play with us, we will also contact his agent and maybe with him.’”

A bunch of media outlets in the US are now confirming the report that Deron Williams indeed has a deal in place to hoop in Turkey during the NBA lockout, and apparently so does Zaza Pachulia. From ESPN: “Players under contract like Williams would typically need a letter clearance from FIBA — the sport’s world governing body — to play anywhere else. But the NBA Players Association has privately maintained for months that it intends to legally challenge any attempt by the NBA or FIBA to block a player such as Williams from playing elsewhere while the NBA has imposed a work stoppage. ‘If they try to stop him,’ one source said of Williams, ‘the union will fight it.’ The bigger risk for Williams is injury-related, especially after he was plagued by a wrist injury throughout the second half of last season after the Nets acquired him from Utah on Feb. 24. The guaranteed money Williams is owed by the Nets would not be protected in the event of injury overseas, meaning that either Williams or Besiktas will have to make insurance arrangements that protect him against long-term injury. NTV Spor also reported Thursday that Atlanta Hawks center Zaza Pachulia plans to join Williams with Besiktas as well.”

Beşiktaş Cola Turka, briefly known as the team employing Allen Iverson (remember him?), has reportedly agreed to terms with another, perhaps more reliable American NBA baller.

Turkey-based sports news outlet NTV Spor announced today that Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets will be joining the TBL club for the 2011-12 with an out clause, should the NBA lockout end.

It’s not explicitly clear yet if NBA players can actually sign with teams in other leagues during the current work stoppage. For the time being, there’s also no telling just how reliable this report about Deron Williams having an agreement in principle to head over to Turkey is.

UPDATE: Several news media outlets have confirmed the Turkish TV report that DWill has agreed to a deal, and Williams may have an NBA teammate or two join him across the pond. Wild times.

Looks like some earlier reports were way off-base. From the AP: “Gary Moore, Iverson’s longtime manager, said Iverson told him Wednesday that he doesn’t plan to retire because of the painful condition. Reports earlier in the day said Iverson was ready to retire. Moore said Iverson has a lesion that is pressing up against the bones of his leg and requires surgery in the U.S. ‘It has to be removed and tested to see if it’s benign or not,’ Moore said by phone. ‘Once that’s removed, Allen is going to look to rehabilitate his leg because the doctors tell him he’ll be out four to six weeks, He’s hoping to be able to play in the playoffs.’ [...] ‘People need to know that Allen is and always has been a fighter,’ Moore said. ‘He’s got a battle ahead of him.’ Moore said Iverson ‘totally disputes’ reports out of Turkey that he was set to retire.”

According to the leading Turkish newspaper, Hurriyet, Besiktas Cola Turka’s next target may be NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal. The story is now all over the Turkish, French and German press. Here’s an English translation of the original report: “Besiktas Cola Turka management has rolled up their sleeves to bring another NBA superstar to Istanbul. Besiktas fans and management, who are very pleased with the arrival of Allen Iverson, have now set their sights on luring Boston Celtics center Shaquille O’Neal overseas. […] Iverson’s manager Gary Moore suggested to Besiktas Vice-Chairman Erdogan Toprak and Head of Basketball Operations Seref Yalcin the possibility of bringing in the Boston big man at the end of the season. Moore, who played a critical role in Iverson’s signing with Besiktas, is in constant contact with O’Neal and could be an intermediary in securing an agreement. […] Along with Iverson, O’Neal’s teammate and Turkish national Semih Erdem would be a great reference for Besiktas. […] The team’s management has already begun working on preparing a deal for next season.”

A German club called Gottingen handed Allen Iverson’s Besiktas squad its second loss in Euro Cup play yesterday with a last-second buzzer beater. Trent Meacham, a 25-year-old guard from the University of Illinois, defended the shot, got the rebound, dribbled coast-to-coast and drilled the game-winner (or what Germans call a ‘Teufelskerl’).

The Turks have filed an official complaint (the game clock seems to have stalled within the last 19 seconds), but the fact remains that, in three games so far, the 35-year-old “Answer” has conceded three defeats.

Some may not want to watch Bubba Chuck play in Turkey. For those who do want to see how he’s doing over there, NBA TV has you covered later today. An NBA press release says it all: “NBA TV announced today that it will televise Sunday’s game featuring 11-time NBA All-Star Allen Iverson and his Turkish team Besiktas Cola Turka of the Beko Turkish Basketball League against the defending TBL champion Fenerbahce Ulker from Istanbul, Turkey. This TBL game will air on NBA TV beginning at 3:30 p.m. (ET) with Rick Kamla and Chris Webber calling the contest.”

AI was supposed to fly to Europe on Friday but missed his flight, causing Besiktas to delay its press conference. From Philly.com: “Former 76ers star guard Allen Iverson was scheduled to depart for Istanbul, Turkey today. Iverson signed a 2-year/$4 million deal last week. Just now, while waiting for Doug Collins at the Wells Fargo Center, this news came from Twitter. From @ismailsenol: ‘Besiktas Cola Turka’s Allen Iverson missed his flight to Istanbul and his arrival delayed to Monday.’ And then this a few minutes later: ‘Besiktas board announced that they delayed the big public press conference to a further date.’”

The deal is official. Allen Iverson has signed a $4 million, two-year contract with Turkish club Besiktas.

A press conference was held Friday at the St. Regis Hotel in Manhattan. AI kept it real, wearing a black tee and Yankees cap.

Iverson told the press “my whole thing was being wanted,” and the Turkish club offers a chance at a “fresh start” in basketball. Iverson continued:

“I had a great time playing in the NBA. Who knows if I ever will again? But I wanted to show everybody I can play at a high level, not just the NBA.”

According to terms of the deal, Iverson will receive bonuses and a percentage of advertising revenues. The former NBA scoring champ also stipulated that the team can’t fine him beyond 1 percent of his salary.

Check the videos below to watch the signing, followed by the unveiling of his new No. 3 Besiktas Cola Turka jersey.

Iverson isn’t expected to make a decision until week’s end, and Moore says that negotiations with a team in China aren’t dead either. For the time being, however, the $2 million (plus potential bonuses) offer is making Turkey sound mighty intriguing to the Iverson camp.

Yahoo! and the AP report:

Gary Moore, Iverson’s personal manager, said Monday night there are “serious talks” for Iverson to play with a Turkish team. Iverson, the 2001 NBA MVP, is negotiating with Besiktas Cola Turka for at least a one-year deal. “This team seems very interested in having him come play,” Moore said by phone. “Allen absolutely wants to play basketball. He has no hesitation going there if that’s the best opportunity for him.”

“We are in very serious negotiations with [Besiktas],” Gary Moore said. “Istanbul is beautiful from everything we’ve learned. It’s not that far from the U.S., and the competition is good which makes it all attractive. Allen wants to play basketball.”

Neither Allen Iverson or his agent Leon Rose have commented on negotiations with the Turkish team.

The Answer in Istanbul. Sounds like a highly-watchable reality television show, no?